Climate activists joined Gomeroi First Nations, farmers, unions, Knitting Nannas and the Country Women’s Association (CWA) among others on September 14 against Santos’ expanded plans to mine coal seam gas (CSG) in the Pilliga State Forest.
Close to 1000 people joined the lively protest at Circular Quay, in Gadi/Sydney before marching to New South Wales Parliament to hear from speakers.
“City and country, together we stand; protect our water, protect our land,” rang through the streets as marchers left Customs House, to Santos’ Sydney office in Telstra Plaza and on to parliament.
The rally, which included farmers from northwest NSW, showed how widely opposed Santos’ plans to frack for CSG are.
Concerns include riding roughshod over First Nations’ objections, salt waste in the Pilliga, contamination of the Great Artesian Plains and the threat to agriculture on the Liverpool Plains.
Bernie Hobbs, from the Sydney Knitting Nannas Against Gas, chaired the rally. A sizeable contingent, organised by the Sydney Climate Coalition, joined in to hear Gomeroi leaders, farmers from the Liverpool Plains, the CWA, Lock the Gate and Vanessa Seagrove assistant secretary of Unions NSW, among others.
[For more information on the campaign visit CSG Free North West.]